EW spoke to Sparks this weekend about the experience of making Sparkle and dealing with the aftermath of Houston’s sudden passing. “It is hard because it is bittersweet,” Sparks says. “I worked with my idol and that was a dream come true. I used to watch the Cinderella adaptation with her and Brandy every day after school. But she should really be here promoting it with me and [it’s] really hard for me to be doing it alone.”

“Singing her song at the Billboard awards was the hardest thing I have ever done,” she explained. “I think the only reason I got through it without sobbing was because she’s up there watching over me.”